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Presented by

The Leadership Test
Six Questions That Transform People and Organizations

"How many of you are completely comfortable calling yourself a leader?"

Drew asked that question to hundreds of thousands of people around the world and in fewer than 1% of cases were most of them willing to call themselves "leaders". This session will focus on how to solve that problem.

In this presentation, Drew demonstrates that there is a form of leadership that is driven by a daily commitment to acting on six core values: impact, courage, growth, empowerment, class, and self-respect. With each value there is a corresponding question that taken together compromise "The Leadership Test." While the questions on this Test may be simple, the behavioural changes they generate build better careers, stronger organizations, and more fulfilling lives. 

Sharing stories from small town Canada to the deserts of Qatar, and insights from leaders of all types- CEOs, elite athletes, cab drivers, custodians, and everyone in between- this presentation will change the way you think about leadership in your life, workplace, and community. 

Audiences will discover:

• The source of their hesitation to identify themselves as leaders
• Why reframing leadership as a daily choice rather than an acquisition of titles and accolades over time matters.
• The framework of "The Leadership Test": an easy-to-apply approach to more consistently engaging in positive leadership behaviours.
• Strategies for more effectively embodying impact, courage, growth, empowerment, class, and self-respect on a daily basis.
  

Drew Dudley
Internationally Acclaimed Leadership Speaker | Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

Called one of the most dynamic speakers in the world, Drew Dudley is on a mission to help people unlearn some dangerous lessons about leadership.

As the founder and chief catalyst of Day One Leadership, he has helped top organizations around the world increase their leadership capacity. His clients have included McDonald’s, American Express, JP Morgan Chase, the United Way, and more than 100 colleges and universities.

Prior to this, Drew spent eight years as the lead of one of Canada’s largest leadership development programs at the University of Toronto.

Drew is also the bestselling author of This is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters. It debuted at #6 on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

As a speaker, Drew has delivered keynotes to more than 250,000 people across five continents. His TED talk “Everyday Leadership (The Lollipop Moment)” was voted “one of the 15 most inspirational TED talks of all time”.

Accountability: The Strategic Leadership Imperative

Accountability…Why is it considered a leadership imperative? How do effective leaders demonstrate it? And, what type of an environment creates a thriving culture of accountability? These are some of the questions we will explore in this one hour session with Lana Gray. Based on her own experience coaching leaders at all levels, leading teams, and consulting with businesses from a wide variety of industries, Lana will challenge us to think about how effectively we are applying this powerful leadership competency. You will leave this session with practical applications for walking the talk on accountability, and creating a culture for others to do the same!!

Lana Gray BHRD, CEC, CPHR
Change Leader | Experience Executive | Professional Coach | People & Culture Consultant

Lana Gray is a Saskatchewan-based People & Change Leader. With a style described as ‘inclusive, collaborative, genuine, insightful and courageous’, her passion is working with fellow leaders that seek to make impactful change. Her clients are those that believe and recognize that bottom lines are optimized by investing in people and leadership in alignment with future-focused business objectives.

Lana’s career began in the Saskatchewan credit union system. She developed a solid business acumen over 23 years, holding increasingly responsible positions in risk management, regulation, human resources, strategic planning, and corporate development. Her responsibilities included fulfilling senior and executive level roles in provincially and nationally based organizations. During her time as Chief People Officer of Concentra Financial (now Equitable Bank), the bank achieved the elite Platinum status as a 50 Best Managed Company. 

Prior to establishing Lana Gray Leadership Services in 2017, Lana worked for four years with the national firm, MNPLLP. Primary areas of focus as a senior associate in the consulting practice of the firm included managing organizational effectiveness projects on time, on budget, and to successful conclusion as confirmed by clients.

Drawing from this diverse experience base and background, Lana Gray Leadership Services partners with clients to achieve better results through a focus on customized change strategies and people solutions, primarily in the areas of: 

• Strategic Planning, Culture & People Strategy 
• Succession Planning, Leadership Development & Executive Coaching
• Risk-Based Outplacement Support & Career Transition Services
  

Lana holds a Bachelor of Human Resource Development (BHRD) and Business Diploma through the University of Regina, and a graduate certificate in executive coaching (CEC) through Royal Roads University. She also holds a Teaching & Learning Certificate granted through the U of R, where she has fulfilled the role of sessional instructor in the Hill School of Business.

As a community leader, Lana sat on the Board of the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) for six years, and was instrumental (no pun intended) in the formation of its Indigenous Advisory Committee. She served a six-year term on the Board of Family Services Regina, including a term as Board Chair. As an advocate of the human resource profession, Lana was a member of the inaugural Board of the Saskatchewan Association of HR Professionals, which we now know as CPHR Saskatchewan. Currently, Lana sits as an appointed public representative on CPA Saskatchewan’s Registration Regulatory Committee, and also serves on the Board of Ranch Ehrlo Society.   

My Superpower is Privilege: Understanding Your Secret Weapon to Create Inclusive Spaces

The word privilege gets thrown around a lot, and often not as a compliment. But what is privilege? How do you get it? And how can you use it to make your organization, and society, a better place for all? 

A privilege is defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” When it comes to inclusions, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA), we tend to talk about things like “white privilege” or “male privilege”. What about “financial privilege” or “educational privilege”? There are many forms of privilege and while not everyone possesses every type of privilege, many people have some form of privilege, in some way, whether they know it or not. 

My Superpower is Privilege: Understanding Your Secret Weapon to Create Inclusive Spaces is an entertaining and informative look at the concept of privilege, and how it can be used to the advantage of others. Based on his award-winning and best-selling book Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right, Michael Bach focuses on the individual and how those of us with certain privileges can use that privilege to make our spaces more inclusive for all people.

Participants will come away with a clear understanding of:

1. The concept of and various kinds of privilege.
2. How privilege can impact people’s lives.
3. How they can use their privilege to the advantage of others.

 

Michael Bach
Author | Speaker | Thought Leader

Michael Bach is a nationally and internationally recognized thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. He is the founder of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), CCDI Consulting and Pride at Work Canada.

Michael has worked professionally in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for nearly 20 years, most recently as the founding CEO of CCDI and CCDI Consulting. Before that he was the national leader of diversity, equity and inclusion for KPMG Canada, and the deputy Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG International.

His 2020 book Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right is a Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Amazon bestseller, and recipient of the silver 2020 Nautilus Book Award in the category of Rising to the Moment, and a finalist in the Legacy Nonfiction category for the American Bookfest's Best Book Awards. His new book Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work was released in March of 2022 and is a Toronto Star bestseller and finalist in the General Nonfiction category for the American Bookfest's Best Book Awards.

Leadership Panel Discussion

A panel of executive leaders from Affinity Credit Union, Nutrien, and Vendasta will share their organization’s leadership journey, insights, successes, challenges, and perspectives as they pertain to this new world of work.

 
Heather Sully, CPHR
Chief People Officer, Affinity Credit Union

Heather joined Affinity in 2011 and has played an integral role in the strategic and operational aspects of workforce planning and employee relations ever since. In April 2019, she assumed the role of Chief People Officer and brings extensive experience in business and human resources to the leadership position. With a passion for inclusion, she’s focused on developing leading HR strategies to foster a remarkable employee experience for our teams so they can deliver the quality advice our members need to achieve their financial goals.

Heather is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources with over two decades of broad HR experience in both private and public organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in HR and Finance from the University of Saskatchewan, a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from Royal Roads University and a Strategic Workforce Planning Certificate from the Human Capital Institute. She's currently engaged in the Institute of Corporate Directors Rotman director education program.

In her spare time, Heather enjoys being active in the community. She has served on several boards and committees including involvement with organizations such as the Saskatoon United Way, Saskatoon YWCA and is past chair of the Saskatoon Friendship Inn. Heather currently serves on the board of the Saskatoon Community Foundation and is a mentor with Big Brother Big Sisters mentorship program. Having grown up in Saskatoon and now raising her family here, Heather is passionate about contributing towards an inclusive and vibrant Saskatoon.

Mark Lane
CEO, Affinity Credit Union

Mark Lane is dedicated to the growth and success of Affinity Credit Union.

He has worked in the credit union system across the Prairies since 1979 and has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions and change management and a wide focus that includes strategic and operational planning, board governance and financial management. As CEO, Mark strives to ensure the credit union provides great value alongside quality advice and service to members.

Mark has proven expertise in team building, consensus driven decision-making and evaluation. He demonstrates and leads by example, and encourages a constructive organizational culture that encourages participation, sales and delivering an exceptional member experience.

Mark is also committed to working to improve access to entry-level housing so that members have a solid foundation on which to secure employment, raise families and build strong communities. As such, he has developed successful and sustainable affordable housing initiatives with municipal and provincial governments.

Candace Laing, CPHR
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Nutrien

With deep expertise in organizational development, Candace Laing, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, initially joined Nutrien as part of the company’s Human Resources (HR) team, before transitioning to her most recent role as Vice President, Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations.

Over the past ten years, Candace has managed Nutrien’s talent development efforts and served on the core integration team that brought together two legacy companies to form Nutrien. She played a pivotal role in launching Nutrien’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, introducing a new governance structure and leading the organization to improved ESG performance. Additionally, she led the development and launch of Nutrien’s sustainability strategy and Feeding the Future plan, an ambitious roadmap to meet Nutrien’s 2030 sustainability commitments.

Candace’s leadership and experience has allowed Nutrien to continue to advance the HR function, ensuring people strategies and initiatives are aligned with business strategy laddering up to Nutrien’s broader goals and commitments.

Candace is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) with two decades of HR experience, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, as well as a Master of Arts in Leadership. Her career has spanned both private and public-sector organizations, with a focus on strategic business initiatives that create long-term value and high-performance cultures. In addition to volunteering on community boards and the Board of the Global Institute for Food Security, Candace is an Executive Board Member and Vice Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about sustainable agriculture and ensuring the world is well fed. Candace is proud to have grown up in Saskatchewan where she currently lives and where her family farms.

Aaron Fornwald
Vice President of HR Business Partners, Nutrien

Aaron comes from a southern Saskatchewan farming background. He originally planned to pursue an Accounting Designation/Major with his degree in Commerce from the U of S but soon realized the people aspect of business was where his passion was strongest. After leading a Special Care Home team following University, he eventually turned to Human Resources leadership in the Health Regions focusing on Labour Relations. Following 20 years in health, he made the move to the private mining/ag sector at Nutrien, where he lead the Labour and Employee Relations team. The role included the opportunity to be Lead Negotiator for the company in the collective bargaining process. This brought the realization, more than ever, that trusted leadership requires active listening, collaboration, compromise and empathy. 

Aaron currently leads a team of strategic HR Business Partners across business units and corporate departments. People are the success of any company and the culture they create sets the foundation for attracting, engaging and retaining talent. To lead a team partnering with the business, shaping the way we lead and support people is both challenging and rewarding.  The values of Integrity, Inclusion, Safety and Results and resulting Culture of Care drives the company’s decision making. 

Jean Parchewsky, CPHR
VP of People Operations, Vendasta Technologies

As VP of People Operations, Jean Parchewsky is responsible for ensuring Vendasta is continually attracting, developing, and retaining a high performing team. Jean joined Vendasta in 2015 to lead the creation and implementation of people programs and to grow the inspiring culture at Vendasta. Completing their Series C in 2020 and recently closing their 3rd acquisition the last few years have been a highlight.

Vendasta has been named Company of the year, the Best Place to work, and Canada’s Top 100 Employers, as well as numerous awards for being an innovative and highly people focused workplace.

Jean is an alumni at the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Psychology. She spent 20 years growing retail leadership brands in Canada such as Zara, Esprit and Target before moving into technology. Jean is involved with the SaskTech Board and has been a speaker at SaaS North, the Edwards School of Business, the University of Saskatchewan, Co. Labs and various Technology events.

With over 700 employees Jean leverages her education in psychology and expertise in leading effective teams to ensure the Vendasta team is not just here to work but are able to be their best and live out their passions.

Brendan King
Co-Founder & CEO, Vendasta Technologies

Intense, boisterous, imaginative. Brendan King, co-founder and CEO of Vendasta Technologies, is the innovative force of the company. Responsible for providing the vision, thought leadership and business strategy, it is Brendan’s ability to focus on the big picture while maintaining quality on the finest details that facilitates Vendasta’s success.

Prior to co-founding Vendasta, Brendan proved his worth through many business ventures, including founding two other successful companies, one of which was nationally franchised. He also provided the entrepreneurial force behind Point2 Agent, a real estate software, where he grew its membership to over 165,000 agents and brokers in 85 countries. Brendan and Vendasta are almost synonymous. Both are governed by four core values: drive, innovation, respect and agility. Brendan is extremely passionate about upholding these core values while leading Vendasta down a path of innovation to become the number one provider of essential brand management products.

Vendasta provides an end-to-end platform to 16,000+ channel partners who sell digital products and services to more than two million small and medium businesses (SMBs). The likes of marketing agencies, broadcasters, publishers, banks, telecoms, and more are able to utilize Vendasta’s rebrandable platform to automate their marketing, organize their sales, take new best-of-breed solutions to market easily, and manage their client accounts – all under a simple, single login. In turn, an SMB client can access a dashboard to monitor improvements and manage their business’ online presence.

The company has been recognized for its steady growth by Deloitte Fast 50 (Canada), Deloitte Fast 500 (North America), Profit 500 and Branham 300 programs and as a Local Visionary in marketing by Street Fight Magazine.

Brett Elmgren, CPHR
President, Axom Leadership Inc.

Brett Elmgren is the President and Founder of Axom Leadership Inc. Axom Leadership is focused on inspiring leaders to create positive change in organizations. Brett Elmgren is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources with 15 years of HR experience working for Saskatchewan’s largest organizations, including Federated Coop, Cameco and Nutrien. Prior to founding Axom, Brett held the position of Director of Talent Management for Nutrien, where Brett played a leadership role in bringing together the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium. Brett holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Brett and his family live in Saskatoon on treaty six territory, and are proud to call Saskatchewan home.

This event is in partnership with Axom Leadership and Brett will host this event.